Katy's Cross - A very special compilation of handmade fine silver crosses.

A Note from the Artist

I began working with PMC in 2002 by attending a beginner's class. I quickly moved into an intermediate and advanced class before acquiring my certification from the PMC Guild in 2004.

With a background in acrylics, mosaics, sculpture, pottery, and traditional jewelry making, I find that I am able to combine techniques from all of these art forms.

Each piece of jewelry evolves with different textures and shapes as I am working. Some textures come from nature and others from man-made tools. Some pieces incorporate light - catching dichroic glass cabochons and whimsical glass beads.

Because Fine Silver doesn't tarnish readily, I find that antiquing, hand burnishing, and polishing enhances the many layers and textures that have been created. Sometimes I choose to leave all or part of an iridescent finish. In addition to the patinas, some pieces are embellished with a layer of 22K gold fused onto the silver.

What is PMC?

Precious Metal Clay represents a dramatic development in the handling of precious metals. PMC, as it is called, consists of microscopic particles of silver or gold suspended in an organic binder to create a pliable material similar to modeling clay. PMC can be worked with fingers and simple tools to create a vast range of forms and surfaces that would be unattainable or laborious with traditional techniques.

The principle ingredient of silver or gold is reduced to tiny flakes smaller than 20 microns in size. As a point of reference, it would take as many as 25 of these particles lumped together, to equal a grain of salt.

This grade of silver is used to make bullion bars for international commodities trading. As the purity level increases, the problem of tarnishing or corrosion lessens. Fine silver is not very reactive - it does not react with oxygen or water at ordinary temperatures so it does not easily form a silver oxide.